Well! I know I haven't updated in a long time, and I'm sorry, but I have been massively busy! I didn't even realize I just had this chappie sitting around waiting for the last few lines to be typed! Sorry for the wait!

Thanks to all the reviews and encouragement! This story is nowhere near over and it still has a long, long, loooong, way to go!

I promise to update my other fanfics as well! Hope you guys are enjoying this as much as I am!

Well, let's get on with le story!

L'Aini's POV

I finally got back to my scoop that morning, and I fell right on my stomach as soon as I did. So did little Yani.

Hanike looked rather embarrassed to see me that way. For we had never seen eachother on our stomachs before, when alone.

But instead of saying anything, he got down next to me.

I blushed, after all, my daughter was right there. But I looked over with my eyestalks and saw that Yani was asleep.

Thank goodness...

I looked at Hanike and he smiled gently at me. He took my hand.

(My dear L'Ainishikaa.)

Suddenly I hated my name. Why on the home world did my mother give me that name?!

(Call me L'Aini, please.)

(L'Aini. I just wanted to adress you properly. After all, this is the first time we've been properly alone.)

I motioned my eyestalks toward Yani and he chuckled. (But I mean we're the only two conscious together. Where were you last night?)

I stared. His tone was not accusing, but I didn't know what to tell him...

'Oh, why, I slept with Tobias in his bird morph!' That would definitely sound right!

(I mean, I remember going to the medi-bay, and that's all...)

Well you drank a whole bucket of that champagne. I thought. Stands to reason you wouldn't remember anything.

He smiled. (No matter. We had fun, didn't we?)

(Yes.) I said, realizing that whether I wanted to admit it or not...

I had actually had more fun with Tobias than I'd ever had with anyone in a long time.

I thought longingly of Kascherm. Tobias was different from him. More quiet. Certainly less proud, but the sweetness was the same. The longing to be happy.

I certainly felt I could relate to him. We'd both lost the loves of our lives, and I'd lost one of my own little ones.

What had Hanike ever lost?

A job?

I doubted even that...

Just because you both lost something isn't a reason to leave Hanike and go to Tobias! I thought.

With shock, I straightened.

Had I really been comparing Hanike and Tobias to see who was better?! Had I really been thinking of leaving Hanike?!

No. I told myself. No! It's just that...champagne! Nothing more! Tobias is a friend. An acquaintance. Barely that.

Surely I wasn't mad enough to think in some sad little corner of my mind that we...

Why not? His father was an Andalite, and he married a human? How would it be so different from that?

It just would! Elfangor wasn't ENGAGED was he? I am!

So what if you're engaged? Break it off!

I actually laughed out loud. Hanike stared.

(My love, are you alright?)

(I am fine.) I said, still tittering nervously a little.

But what does Elfangor have do with me? Elfangor didn't already have a child when he met Loren, did he?

No, but he loved Loren. And she was from a different people Like you and Tobias...

No! There is no Tobias and I! There is just me! Me and Hanike!

But do you really love Hanike?

He...of course I do! He is kind to me...he is sweet! Why shouldn't I love him?

But do you?

I sighed.

Break it off, you're not ready!

Yes, I am!

No, you're not!

Why would I want to break an engagement off with Hanike, just to even see if there was a chance for Tobias and I?

You know there is! You know you love him!

I do not! That's ridiculous! I barely know him!

You barely know Hanike!

I...I do know him! I've known him for years!

But you've always known him as Kascherm's friend! You've never really known him! And knowing someone for years doesn't always make the love stronger!

It was right. The voice deep in me. But I kept trying to find an excuse...

No way. Hanike would be crushed if I left him for a human!

You don't have to say that YET.

What?!

Tell him you're not ready.

What? HAH!

But you're not ready. You're not ready to move on yet! Even with Hanike! Are you?

I pondered that for a few seconds as Hanike wrapped his arm around my waist and laid his cheek on my shoulder.

(What are you thinking about my L'Aini?) He said softly.

(No...nothing...) I tried to push the thoughts out of my head.

But the voice insisted.

Look inside, L'Aini. You're not ready.

Tobias POV

(Oh man! Oh man oh man oh man! We're dead!) I exclaimed, flapping frantically.

I had demorphed and I could see with my laser hawk vision that the 'Inspectors' were here!

Again.

They were looking at the others who were still strewn about.

I saw that stupid young soldier with them poking Marco with his tail and laughing.

Jeanne got up embarrassed as Mr. Stompy came over to her and Jake in the hammock.

It looked like Jake was awake and Mr. Stompy was questioning him!

Dr. Sardis was making his way toward the Rachel!

(GHAA! Not enough time! Not enough time!)

Ax ran behind me.

(Tobias! Face it! We will not make it!)

(OH YES WE WILL!) I yelled hysterically. (YOU ARE NOT ENDING UP IN A NUTHOUSE IF I CAN HELP IT! GOT IT?!)

I tried to think.

Think Tobias! Think!

We've got to sneak in the Rachel...

Got it! Okay...now...how do we do that?

Graaa! I don't know!

Well THINK!

(AX!) I yelled. (MORPH FLEA! NOW!)

L'Aini POV

(Hanike, I need to talk with you about something.)

Don't tell him about Tobias! My mind screamed.

Are you serious? Of course I won't!

(Yes dear L'Aini?)

(Ah, well...it's about...the wedding...)

He grinned. (Excited aren't you? I am! I think I'll be so nervous I'll fall over! Aximili and Estrid's wedding only made me think of it more!)

It had done the same to me...

(Yes.) I agreed.

(But, what was your question my love?)

(Ah...er...well...you see...I don't know if... I mean...I don't know...)

His eyes looked so lovingly at me. So trusting. So caring.

He really did love me.

Was I making a mistake? He loved me!

But do you really love him? That voice cried in me.

GHAAA! Oh shut up! Why do you have to confuse me?

Why do I have to tell him now?

Why do I have to spoil this? I thought, as I looked down at his arms around my waist, holding me close, his face inches from mine.

(I ah...I don't know...who to invite...) I said, and the huge weight settled back on my tail again.

I felt like I was suffocating!

(Well that's alright!) He said, smiling. (We can invite as many as you want my love! Anyone you want! Do you want to invite Estrid? Is that it? Well, if you've made such good friends with her, why not? I think you should! You need friends.)

I looked at him surprised. (What?)

(Well.) He blushed. (I've just noticed you seldom get out much. You need to be around other females more.) Then he grinned. (Though I like it that you prefer to be around me so much.)

I smiled. (I'm...not very social...)

Which was probably true. Somewhat anyway.

He was right. I did get lonely during the day.

Estrid was nice. Someone to talk to. Someone who understood raising a child alone.

Well...not anymore...

I couldn't help but think jealously of her and Aximili.

Then why spoil this? My mind thought. He loves you. You'll have a lovely Andalite family together. You'll be happy.

It had always been something that Kascherm had told me, mostly when I'd thought about going into the medical field. (L'Aini, whatever you do, I want you to be happy. Whatever you do.)

Would I be happy being the little Andalite housewife for the rest of my life?

But what would life with Tobias be like?

Where would we go? Would it be that much different than life with Hanike? Wouldn't I still probably be a housewife in the end?

It was too much!

I had certain comfort and safety with Hanike for myself and my daughter, and perhaps happiness, but on the other hand, I couldn't imagine ever being unhappy with Tobias. But would I be safe with him?

There were still Yeerks in the galaxy. Earth was still shattered. Dangerous.

And what about little Yani? I couldn't just think of me!

I looked over at her. My Yani. The only one I really had left in the universe.

But as many sensible arguments as I could think up against even considering a relationship with Tobias, I couldn't forget him. He tugged at my hearts. It was as if there was a chain from him to my hearts, and pulling against it was agony...

Hanike was sleeping now, snuggled next to me. Poor Hanike. I was ignoring him.

Maybe it would be better to let him go...after all, if I didn't care enough to even pay attention to him...maybe he was better off without me...

No! I told myself. I can't go down this path! I can't!

I thought of holding Tobias in my arms earlier that morning.

The kiss he gave me the night before.

The dance we had.

The drunk kiss we shared this morning. Even if it was weird, it had been so much fun...

What had Hanike and I ever done that was fun?

I looked at Hanike. I still felt so much affection for him.

But I didn't love him the way I loved Tobias.

It wasn't the crazy, nonsense-making, passionate way I loved Tobias.

And with shock, I realized in my hearts that it would never be...

I had known Tobias only days and I was crazier about seeing him than I was Hanike.

I tried to stop the urge to sob in me. I needed to hold myself together. For Yani. For me.

This would be so hard...

Sorry Hanike. But I just can't ignore it.

But wait. What would Kascherm want for me? And for Yani?

L'Aini, whatever you do, I want you to be happy. Whatever you do...

I forced back the longing to weep. For one of the first few times since he'd died, I felt his presence with me, warm and sure. I breathed in and exhaled deeply a few times to calm myself.

But my sensible Andalite mind told me that I couldn't just throw myself into this. Better to do as I had thought earlier; to just wait until I was ready...

(Hanike, I-)

(DOCTOR L'Aini!) My thoughtscreen bellowed.

I jumped nearly a foot in the air. Hanike awoke.

(Buh?!)

(You are NOT here on your regular time! Why not?!

I looked with embarrassment at the thoughtscreen.

(Oh no!) I groaned inside my head, privately.

It was Prince Leetherin. At the Rachel!

And I had completely forgotten his threat about Aximili not being there!